Known wealthy people in the country are few like Chris Kirubi. However, we have others who are silent and shy yet very rich. Eldoret has one of them.
David Lagat is a billionaire who is little known to a majority of Kenyans. By all measures, he plays in the billionaire’s league and if the 52-year old is not in the league of the super rich, then his current plan to build a Sh200 billion industrial park in Eldoret town will certainly catapult him to the exclusive club.
But history will not pay homage to Lagat popularly known as DL for simply being filthy rich. The Chairman and founder of the DL Group of Companies would like to be remembered for having helped retrace China’s path to industrial greatness in Kenya. If he fails in this mission, then he will be remembered for at least having tried.
DL himself takes exception to the manner in which the media has labelled him a 'multi-billionaire'. Perhaps he is just trying to be modest about his wealth.
He sees himself as a simple man who grew up in the village, herding cows, walking barefoot to a village school and whom through hard work and entrepreneurship has built a business empire.
Instead, he wants to be remembered for what he did for the country, rather than what he did for himself. With interests spanning real estate, agriculture, and energy, Langat might have done a lot for himself already.
He owns Koisagat Tea Estate in Nandi County and Kapchepet Tea Factory in Kericho County. He also runs Selenkei Investments Ltd, a company that generates electricity from solar energy.
He also owns the imposing Nyali Centre in Mombasa County as well as the Sunrise Resort in the same county.
But Africa Economic Zones (AEZ) Pearl River Industrial Park, a project he started in partnership with Guangdong New South Group Ltd is special to him.
Not only will it add more digits to the money in his bank account, but he also believes it will revolutionise the country’s manufacturing stature.
He is a shy man who has avoided cameras since 2013 when he started working on the industrial park and hopes the project which sits on a 700-acre piece of land will be the spark that will set off the industrial fireworks in the country.
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